Hafeez cleared to bowl by ICC

Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez is free to resume bowling in international cricket after remedial work and a re-test on his action.

Off-spinner Hafeez, 34, was banned from bowling after being reported for a suspect action five months ago in the first Test against New Zealand in Abu Dhabi and then failing an initial test on its legality.

He was therefore unable to be selected to bowl in the World Cup, but injured his calf anyway and was ruled out of the global tournament in Australia and New Zealand.

Hafeez played as a specialist batsman in Pakistan’s one-day international defeat against Bangladesh on Sunday, making a duck at number three in the defeat in Dhaka.

But after the International Cricket Council confirmed his action has been proven legal in Chennai this month, Hafeez can bowl again for his country.

Javeria Khan, an all-rounder in Pakistan’s women’s team, has also had her action cleared – almost five years after it was first reported and then failed an initial ICC test